Beautiful Custom Wood Bench with Chainsaw Carvings of Horses

Log houses and cabins are arguably some of the most whimsical homes on the real estate marked. Even if youre not totally into rustic style living, you have to admit that log houses have an undeniable appeal. Owning a log house can be a wonderful experience, especially if you designed it and saw it built from the ground up, or maybe even built it yourself. While some people think that the building process is one of the most crucial aspects of being a log house owner, it doesnt end there. Maintenance of a log house is extremely important when it comes to owning a log home. You can usually tell when a log house hasnt been cared for properly; it loses its natural wooden glow and starts to look more like something from a scary movie, rather than a magical fairy tale. Maintenance isn't something that people factor into the overall costs of log home building and living. Naturally, people will only focus on the cost of the build while they're building their home and forget about the expenses that come with owning and taking care of an existing structure.

Knowing about these extra expenses and maintenance procedures will help you to stay on top of caring for your log house. Most people don't realize that the bi-annual general maintenance for a log house can cost around $2000 - $3000, so they may be caught by surprise at some point to learn this. Knowing how to maintain your home will keep the value of the home intact while preserving the natural beauty of the logs. The maintenance of a log house consists of the upkeep of the shell of the home, meaning the logs on the inside and outside of the house. The logs will be treated to be protected from the sun's harmful rays, water damage that could lead to mold and rot, and insect infestations. The constant upkeep of the home also prevents the logs from getting that withered look you see in older log houses, keeping that beautiful wood glow that makes a log house feel so inviting.

There are four steps to protecting the logs in a home, surface preparation, preserving, staining, and sealing. If you have done any wood refinishing projects yourself, you know that surface preparation is a critical part of the process, yet many people discount it. The logs need to be clean, bare and completely dry before anything is put on them. Working in warm weather is a great way to speed up the dry times, but it can be done in cooler weather, but will simply take longer. Cleaning the logs with a mixture of bleach, detergent, and water has always been a favorite method for log home owners, as well as pressure washing to rinse off any cleaner. Preserving the wood with borates which allow the perfect balance of moisture in the log, which will deter mold, mildew, fungi and insects. The wood finish applied to your house should contain at least 30% solids which will absorb into the wood. Higher quality finishes will contain up to 60% solids and should protect your log house for up to 5 years. The sealing process will seal any areas where water or air can enter the house. The chinking between logs is usually an area to inspect thoroughly and fix where needed. Even though this is only a very light overview of the maintenance practices for log houses, it gives you an idea of what to expect in terms of log home maintenance. There are many log home maintenance lists online that you can download for free to have on hand as well.